Track switch for suspension conveyor system



A ril 26, 1966 J. L. KOZLOSKY TRACK SWITCH FOR SUSPENSION CONVEYOR SYSTEM Filed 001;. 7, 1964 INVENTOR ATTOR EYS United States Patent 3,247,952 TRACK SWITCH FOR SUSPENSION CONVEYOR SYSTEM Joseph L. Kozlosky, 1329 E. 289th St., Wicklitfe, Ohio Filed Oct. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 402,219 Claims. (Cl. 198-173) The present invention relates to conveyor systems and more particularly to a track switch for suspension conveyor systems whereby articles to be transported by the system may be switched from one track to another.

Suspension conveyor systems have many applications in materials handling, particularly in manufacturing and storage. A typical'use of such suspension conveyor systems is in the handling of garments suspended on coat hangers. Such systems are widely used in clothing manufacturing facilities and in dry cleaning establishments.

While the track switch of the present invention is use ful in many types of materials handling systems, the device will be shown and described with particular reference to suspension conveyor systems designed for transporting garments hung on conventional type coat hangers.

Where a group of garments suspended on coat hangers are to be transferred from one conveyor track to another such as for sorting garments alphabetically or by size, or according to a distribution plan, it is desirable to have a track switch which may be easily opened and closed and which will provide a strong, sturdy support for the hangers as they are passed from one track to another. Since the hangers are hooked over the track, it is necessary to raise the hook above the level of the track if the hangers are to be removed.

The switch of the present invention utilizes a ramp to elevate the hangers well above the top of the track as they are propelled along the track by the conveyor system so that the hook portion of the hanger may be passed across the top of the track without interference. Once the hangers are elevated by the ramp, they are diverted by a switch arm forming an extension of'a secondary track. The switch arm swings into a switch closed position adjacent the side wall of the ramp and engages the hangers before they drop from the ramp back to the track. the means for conveying the hangers and thus switched onto a secondary track while the hook of each hanger is elevated above the main track.' The switch arm is contiguous with the secondary track and mounted for ro-. tary movement thereon between an open position and a closed position. The switch arm and secondary track may be arranged at an incline so that the hangers will tend to slide downwardly onto the secondary track, where they may be stored or picked up by another conveyor.

When the switch arm is in its closed position, it rests against a support which is attached to the ramp so that the weight of the garments being diverted is transferred to the main track rather than being borne by the cantilevered end of the secondary track on which the switch is mounted.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a track switch for a suspension conveyor system whereby articles may be mechanically transferred from one track to another when desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a track switch of simple low-cost construction which provides a strong sturdy support for articles suspended in a conveyor system when being diverted from one track to another.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a track switch for a garment conveyor system whereby coat hangers of conventional type may be easily transferred from one track to another.

The hangers are forced onto the switch arm by i 3,247,952 Patented Apr. 26, 1966 Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a garment conveyor system showing a track switch embodying the present invention, the switch being shown in its closed position.

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, showing the switch in its closed position.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, showing the switch in its open condition in solid lines and in its closed condition in dashed lines.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top elevation of the apparatus as shown in FIGURE 1, showing the switch in its open condition in'solid lines and in its closed condition in dashed lines.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on the lines 6-6 of FIGURE 1, showing the switch in its closed condition.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevation on an enlarged scale showing the manner in which the switch arm is attached to the secondary track, with parts broken away and shown in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a track switch embodying the present invention and adapted particularly for use in a garment conveyor system.

Included in the system are a frame 1 for supporting the conveyor system, conveyor support members 2, and a main conveyor track 3, suspended from the frame 1 by the conveyor support members 2. The main conveyor track 3 is generally of tubular form as best shown in FIGURE 6 with an axial slot 4 located at the top. Located within the tubular conveyor track 3 is an endless conveyor train 5 which moves axially within the tubular conveyor track 3 and which is propelled by suitable drive means.

The conveyor train 5 includes spaced bearing members 6 which bear against the inner wall of the tubular track 3 and has upwardly'extending posts 7 which serve to propel hangers 8 suspended from the track along the track in response to movement of the conveyor train 5. The posts 7 extend upwardly through the slot 4-. Normally a garment 9 is hung on each hanger 8 as shown in FIGURE 1.

Located adjacent the main conveyor track 3 is a secondary track 10 of tubular form adapted to receive hangers 8 diverted by the switch from the main conveyor track 3 and to route them to a desired storage location or to another conveyor. The secondary track 10 may be positioned with a downward slope as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 3 so that the hangers 8 will tend to slide downwardly when shifted onto the secondary track 10 in order to prevent bunching at the switch. If desired, the

hangers 8 may be picked up on the secondary track by another continuous conveyor train. As shown in FIG- URES 1, 3 and 5, the secondary track 10 is mounted to the frame 1 by means of a special secondary track support member 11 which is so arranged that it does not interfere with the passage of hangers 8 along the main conveyor trackfi as best shown in FIGURE 5.

Mounted on top of the main conveyor track 3 is a ramp 12 in the form of a flat plate having a sloped edge 13 adapted to elevate hangers 8 as they are propelled over the ramp 12 by the posts 7. The posts 7 are of sufiicient height to engage the top of the hangers 8 during their travel up and across the ramp 12.

Mounted for rotary movement at the end of the secondary track 10 and axially aligned therewith, is a switch arm 14 of tubular form adapted to move into and out of engagement with the side of the ramp 12. When moved to the switch closed position, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and in dashed lines in FIGURES 3 and 4, the front end of the switch arm 14 is cut at an angle to the axis of to the side of the ramp 12.

The switch arm 14 has a small bend approximately midway between its ends and is mounted so that the rearward end 17 of the arm 14 lies adjacent the aXis of the main track and so that when the switch is in its closed position, the front end 15 is turned inwardly towards the main track as best shown in FIGURE 2. The front end 15 of the switch arm 14 is cut at an angle to the axis of the switch arm so that the end face of the switch rests snugly and evenly against the side of the ramp 12.

Several methods of attaching the switch arm 14 to the secondary track 10 may be used, and for the purpose of illustration one such method is shown in detail in FIG- URE 7. Mounted within the rearward end 17 of the switch arm 14 is a cylindrical shaft 18 attached thereto by a rivet 19 passing transversely through a circular bore in the shaft 18 and riveted to tubular wall of the switch arm 14. The rearward end of the shaft 18 has a circumferential slot 20 which extends for about 100 of are around the circumference of the shaft 18. The shaft is rotatably received in the open end of the secondary track 10 and is retained therein by a machine screw 21 which is threadedly received in the tubular wall of the secondary track and which extends into the slot 20 to limit the rotary movement of the switch arm to about 100 of are.

In the operation of the switch, when it is desired to remove the garment hangers 8 from the main conveyor track 3 to the secondary track 10, the switch arm 14 is manually or otherwise turned from its upward open position to its closed position, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The garment hangers 8 being propelled by the posts 7 will then be slid up and across the ramp 12 until they engage the front end 15 of the switch arm 14. The posts 7 will continue to propel the garment hangers 8 along the switch arm 14 until the hanger hooks have been diverted laterally across the top of the main conveyor track 3 and past the end of the ramp 12. The garment hangers 8 will then tend to slide down the switch arm 14 and onto the secondary track 10 which slopes downwardly at an angle, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 3.

To open the switch the operator merely turns the switch arm 14 back to its upward switch open position. In this condition the conveyor will propel the garment hangers 8 across the ramp 12, and they will drop downwardly back to the main conveyor track 3 when on the other side of the ramp 12 rather than be diverted off onto the secondary track 10.

It is to be understood that, in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, variations and modifications of the specific device herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. Switching apparatus for use in a suspension conveyor system to divert from a stationary main conveyor track to a secondary track articles suspended on hangers having hooks releasably connected to said main conveyor track, comprising means for propelling hangers along said main conveyor track, a stationary ramp mounted on said rnain conveyor track and adapted to elevate said hangers when propelled thereover by said propelling means, and a switch arm contiguous with said secondary track and mounted for rotary movement coaxially therewith between a switch open position and a switch closed position, whereby in said closed position said switch arm engages each hook moving over said ramp to divert each of said hooks laterally across said main conveyor track and onto said secondary track.

2. Switching apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said switch arm and said secondary track are inclined at a downward slope relative to said ramp.

3. In a suspension conveyor system including a stationary main conveyor track, means for propelling along said main track hangers for carrying suspended articles, each of said hangers having a hook releasably attached to said main track, and a secondary track adapted to receive hangers from said main track, a track switch comprising a stationary ramp mounted on said main conveyor track and adapted to elevate said hangers when propelled thereover by said propelling means, and a switch arm contiguous with said secondary track and mounted for rotary movement coaxially therewith between a switch open position and a switch closed position adjacent to and cooperating with said ramp whereby in said closed position, said switch arm engages each hook moving over said ramp to divert each of said hooks laterally across said ramp and onto said secondary track.

4. A track switch as defined in claim 3 wherein said switch arm is inclined with a downward slope relative to said ramp.

5. Switching apparatus for use in a suspension conveyor system to divert from a stationary main conveyor track to a secondary track articles suspended on hangers having hooks releasabiy connected to said main conveyor track, comprising means for propelling hangers along said main conveyor track, a stationary ramp mounted on said main conveyor track and adapted to elevate said hangers when propelled thereover by said propelling means, and a switch arm contiguous with said secondary track and mounted for rotary movement coaxially therewith between a switch open position and a switch closed position, said switch arm being contiguous with said ramp and supported by said main conveyor track when in said closed position, whereby in said closed position, said switch arm engages each hook moving over said ramp to divert each of said hooks laterally across said ramp and onto said secondary track.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,573,334 10/1951 Hitz 198-473 3,124,236 3/1964 Gerisch 198169 3,171,537 3/1965 Svereika 198-185 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. SWITCHING APPARATUS FOR USE IN A SUSPENSION CONVEYOR SYSTEM TO DIVERT FROM A STATIONARY MAIN CONVEYOR TRACK TO A SECONDARY TRACK ARTICLES SUSPENDED ON HANGERS HAVING HOOKS RELEASABLY CONNECTED TO SAID MAIN CONVEYOR TRACK, COMPRISING MEANS FOR PROPELLING HANGERS ALONG SAID MAIN CONVEYOR TRACK, A STATIONARY RAMP MOUNTED ON SAID MAIN CONVEYOR TRACK AND ADAPTED TO ELEVATE SAID HANGERS WHEN PROPELLED THEREOVER BY SAID PROPELLING MEANS, AND A SWITCH ARM CONTIGUOUS WITH A SECONDARY TRACK AND MOUNTED FOR ROTARY MOVEMENT COAXIALLY THEREWITH BETWEEN A SWITCH OPEN POSITION AND A SWITCH CLOSED POSITION WHEREBY IN SAID CLOSED POSITION SAID SWITCH ARM ENGAGES EACH HOOK MOVING OVER AND SAID RAMP TO DIVERT EACH OF SAID HOOKS LATERALLY ACROSS SAID MAIN CONVEYOR TRACK AND ONTO SAID SECONDARY TRACK. 